Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 16:54:21 -0700
Reply-To: Thomas Pfrommer <pfrommer@PHAS.UBC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Thomas Pfrommer <pfrommer@PHAS.UBC.CA>
Organization: University of British Columbia
Subject: Sudden head gasket coolant catastrophic leaking
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi,
oh man, I thought my van is running now. Did it for about 1500km, but
today suddenly lost all its coolant, luckily a guy behind me on the
highway called my attention right away. I did not see anything and the
water temp did not yet rise. Well I pulled over the next exit. Again
lucky was only 500m away, and then the temp gauge was rising quickly. So
to the next parking lot and shut down the engine before it overheats!
But what the hack was going on? Temp was always good, never reved it
above 3000 rpm in these first 1500km. Oil pressure was good (yes the
installed oil gauge is working fine ;-))
And suddenly I loose all my water. After waiting to let the engine cool
down a bot, I was able to look and lie underneath the engine and saw
that the head gasket was pushed out for about 0.5 inch and thats where
it leak. I added a bit of distilled water in the expansion tank and it
pulled out right away right at this point (at the rear end of the right
head, about midway between top and bottom of the head). What could have
happened? When I rebuilt the engine, I torqued the heads to the specs
indicated in the Bentley. I inspected the studs and they did not seem to
be in bad shape so I did not replace them. Is this an indication that
one stud broke? Yesterday I drove and was in a traffic jam and it was
very hot, but everything worked fine, the water temp never rose more
then just above the light position.
I don't know but thats kind of weired. Perhaps not for you experts, but
for me, as it drove without problems up to this point. I changed the
expansion head cap just two days before as well, and all water was in,
not indication of a small leak anywhere.
Well I am quite frustrated now, I must admit, just thought I let you
know, perhaps you have some advice. The thing is I do not have much time
now to fix this major thing. I am quite busy at work. Do you Vancouver
guys have a good recommendation, where to put it? I let it tow to
Blenheim at 12th/Arbutus, just because I heard they are very nice guys.
So I assume they don't rip me off. But perhaps there are other places?
Anyway have a nice week-end and enjoy the sun, I have to recover a bit
form this disappointment today though.
Cheers
Thomas
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